No amenities despite Nagar Panchayat
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, Nov 29 — The seven villages and about 30 colonies under the jurisdiction of the Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat are devoid of basic civic amenities which the Nagar Panchayat is supposed to provide after its formation.

A visit to Govind Vihar Colony reveals that roads and streetlights are in poor condition. There are potholes on roads, making passage of vehicles difficult. Absence of light poles causes inconvenience to residents at night.

The population of the nagar panchayat is more than 16,000 and there is only one tubewell of the Punjab Sewerage and Water Board to meet water requirements. Many residents have set up their own tubewells in the backyards of their houses. Frequent power cuts leave these tubewells of little use. Residents have to fetch water from handpumps in adjoining villages.

Residents complain that they are facing problems with certain architects in preparing plans of their buildings but these plans are rejected by the nagar panchayat, saying that these do not conform to bylaws.

Though the Electricity Department has started issuing power connections, most of the residents have not been able to obtain no objection certificates from the nagar panchayat and are still using kerosene.

Residents have to go to either Zirakpur or Dhakauli to post letters as there is no letter box in the area. The sub-post office is functioning from a room in Dhakauli village with insufficient staff. Residents allege that the postman hardly visits the colony and hands over the letters to school students.